Warwickshire & West Midlands Sport

Coventry fined for Brum brawl

BELEAGUERED Championship club Coventry have been handed a suspended points deduction and fined for bringing the game into disrepute.
Governing body Rugby Football Union (RFU) summoned the Blue and Whites to a disciplinary hearing last Thursday (February 18) along with relegation rivals Birmingham and Solihull after personnel at the two clubs were involved in a brawl at the closing stages at a match at Butts Park Arena earlier this month.
Both clubs pleaded guilty to an 'offence of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or Game' and were both fined £1,500 and docked five points, suspended for 12 months.
Birmingham and Solihull hooker Stuart Philpott was also banned for two weeks for his part in the brawl after he had been replaced on the pitch.
At the same meeting the three man panal also ordered city side Pinley and Rushden and Higham, in Northamptonshire, to replay their Junior Vase Midlands quarter-final tie.
In the original tie on February 6 the match official had to abandon the game after 57 minutes when the two sides were involved in a brawl.
Pinley were fined £500 and prop Matthew Clarke banned for six weeks for striking an opponent in the same game.

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